diff --git a/lib/libc/stdlib/malloc/Makefile.inc b/lib/libc/stdlib/malloc/Makefile.inc
index bce4353fe80..3bae4ff1505 100644
--- a/lib/libc/stdlib/malloc/Makefile.inc
+++ b/lib/libc/stdlib/malloc/Makefile.inc
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 SYM_MAPS+=${LIBC_SRCTOP}/stdlib/malloc/Symbol.map
 
-.include "${LIBC_SRCTOP}/stdlib/malloc/jemalloc/Makefile.inc"
+.include "${LIBC_SRCTOP}/stdlib/malloc/${OPT_LIBC_MALLOC}/Makefile.inc"
diff --git a/share/mk/src.opts.mk b/share/mk/src.opts.mk
index 1183a820216..d7112cf5717 100644
--- a/share/mk/src.opts.mk
+++ b/share/mk/src.opts.mk
@@ -228,6 +228,12 @@ __DEFAULT_DEPENDENT_OPTIONS= \
 	LOADER_VERIEXEC_VECTX/LOADER_VERIEXEC \
 	VERIEXEC/BEARSSL \
 
+__SINGLE_OPTIONS = \
+	LIBC_MALLOC
+
+__LIBC_MALLOC_OPTIONS=	jemalloc
+__LIBC_MALLOC_DEFAULT=	jemalloc
+
 # MK_*_SUPPORT options which default to "yes" unless their corresponding
 # MK_* variable is set to "no".
 #
diff --git a/tools/build/options/LIBC_MALLOC b/tools/build/options/LIBC_MALLOC
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ee1883f3ee5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/build/options/LIBC_MALLOC
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+Specify the
+.Xr malloc 3
+implementaiton used by libc.
+The default value is
+.Li jemalloc .
+Valid values are:
+.Bl -tag -width indent
+.It Li jemalloc
+.El
+.Pp
+Other implementations are expected in the future in both
+.Fx
+and downstream consumers.